Steiner Observer 10x42 specs and field of view

The Observer 10x42 has a 300 ft field of view, 81st of 87 among 10x42 binoculars, against a 336 ft median. It weighs 24.9 oz and has a 6.6 ft close focus.

Field of view: 300 ftat 1,000 yd
Eye relief: 16 mm
Close focus: 6.6 ft
Weight: 24.9 oz
Exit pupil: 4.2 mmcalculated

Why pick it

16 mm eye relief, enough for glasses
Focuses as close as 6.6 ft
Waterproof

Observer 10x42: width of view at 1,000 yd, against the median of the 87 10x42 models.

Who the Observer 10x42 suits

Wearers of glasses get 16 mm of eye relief, and close subjects work at 6.6 ft. The maker names hunting, and the roof prism keeps the body slim.

The 5.7 degree view is among the narrowest in 10x42, and the waterproofing is rated only Yes (IPX4) with no stated depth.

Observer 10x42 aside, the most popular models of all sizes are in our best binoculars comparison. Observer 10x42 is one of 87 models in the 10x42 binoculars comparison.

Observer 10x42 specifications

Observer 10x42 figures as Steiner prints them; rows marked * are calculated from the 10x42 size.

Observer 10x42 specifications
Magnification	10x
Objective lens	42 mm
Prism type	Roof
Field of view	300 ft at 1,000 yd (100 m at 1,000 m)
Angular field of view	5.7°
Apparent field of view	57° *
Eye relief	16 mm
Close focus	6.6 ft (2 m)
Eye spacing range	56 to 74 mm
Weight	24.9 oz (706 g)
Length	2.6 in (65 mm)
Width	5 in (128 mm)
Waterproofing	Yes (IPX4)
Exit pupil	4.2 mm *
Twilight factor	20.5 *
Relative brightness	17.6 *

* Calculated from the size, not printed by the maker.

Observer 10x42 against other 10x42 binoculars

Observer 10x42 shows 300 ft at 1,000 yd, below the 336 ft median of the 87 10x42 models in the chart. At 24.9 oz it is at or under the 24.9 oz median weight for the size.

Kowa SV III 10x42400 ft
Swarovski NL Pure 10x42399 ft
Bushnell R5 10x42390 ft
Minox X-PRO 10x42390 ft
Kowa BD III 10x42 XD378 ft
Hawke Frontier APO 10x42372 ft
Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42367 ft
Nikon Prostaff P7 10x42367 ft
Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 10x42367 ft
GPO Passion HD 10x42366 ft
Nikon Monarch HG 10x42363 ft
Steiner Observer 10x42300 ft

10x42 binoculars by field of view at 1,000 yd, widest first, from the makers' figures.

Observer 10x42 and its nearest rivals

Observer 10x42 next to the 10x42 models closest to it in maker list price, with the best figure in each column in bold.

Model	Field of view	Eye relief	Close focus	Weight	Exit pupil	Amazon
Steiner Observer 10x42	300 ft	16 mm	6.6 ft	24.9 oz	4.2 mm
ZEISS Victory SF 10x42	360 ft	18 mm	4.9 ft	27.8 oz	4.2 mm
Canon 10x42 L IS WP	342 ft	16 mm	8.2 ft	39.2 oz	4.2 mm
ZEISS Terra ED 10x42	330 ft	14 mm	5.3 ft	25.6 oz	4.2 mm	Check price on Amazon

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Other sizes of the Observer

Steiner makes the Observer in 3 sizes; a larger front lens adds brightness and weight, and more magnification narrows the view.

Model	Size	Field of view	Eye relief	Close focus	Weight	Exit pupil	Amazon
Steiner Observer 10x42	10x42	300 ft	16 mm	6.6 ft	24.9 oz	4.2 mm
Steiner Observer 8x42	8x42	348 ft	17 mm	6.6 ft	25.3 oz	5.3 mm
Steiner Observer 8x56	8x56	336 ft	16 mm		41.3 oz	7 mm	Check price on Amazon

Steiner binoculars

Observer 10x42 questions

Observer 10x42: does it work with glasses?

Observer 10x42 has 16 mm of eye relief, which meets the 16 mm the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses.

Observer 10x42: what does 10x42 mean?

Observer 10x42 magnifies 10 times through 42 mm front lenses, which works out to an exit pupil of 4.2 mm, the width of the beam of light that reaches each eye.

Observer 10x42: how wide is the view?

Observer 10x42 shows a view 300 ft wide at 1,000 yd, below the 336 ft median of the 87 10x42 models in the chart.